My dad doesn’t want me to get married

Q.The hosannas you received for your performance in Highway are still going strong…

It feels good that people have liked my performance. I’m thrilled the film was loved. That’s most important for me. I knew I was doing something different. From my first film Student Of The Year (SOTY) to this one, it was a huge switch. I didn’t know whether the change would be for the good or the bad but I took it on as a challenge. I didn’t expect I would be praised so much. People have told me things, which are absolutely precious. All the credit goes to Imtiaz Ali. Highway happened because of him… My performance happened because of him.

Q.For a 20-year-old, it was a difficult role to play.

I would like to believe that age is just a number. Whether you are 20 or 40 or 60… if you connect with a certain emotion and soak in the character, anything can happen. I already had a sense of maturity. My character required me to push it even more.

Q.What were the difficulties you faced while shooting the film?

The film was emotionally exhausting. I had to invest a lot in myself and that was a task. It tore me down. It was mentally and emotionally taxing. There were physical difficulties too. The locations where we shot were rugged; I went through physical discomfort. But all these difficulties brought out only positive emotions. I never wondered what I was doing or why I was there. I was happy.

Q.From SOTY to Highway, the journey has been extreme...

I was comfortable in both the scenarios. People wrote me off after SOTY. They said I was just another pretty face and that I couldn’t act. The audience also thought that I wouldn’t be able to do more than just look pretty and be a prop in a film. But I knew there would come a time when I would break it. However, I didn’t think it would come so soon. I have a hunger to act. I want to be a star as well as an actor. It’s said that either you can be a star or an actor… I want to be both. Many actors in the industry are like that – star actors.

Q.Who according to you are the ‘star actors’ in the industry?

Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor. They are stars but also great actors. They can do songs and dance and act convincingly too. Actually, most of our stars are fabulous actors.

Q.After so much critical acclaim, are you under pressure with regard to your upcoming films?

No. I haven’t taken anything seriously. I gave a lot to Highway and appreciation makes me happy. That’s about it. I have given my all to my next film too. I’m not looking at outdoing my performance. I put equal efforts in all my films.

Q.Are you expecting to win awards this year?

I’ve wanted to win an award ever since I was a kid. I’d practice my acceptance speech holding a shampoo bottle in the bathroom. But today I don’t expect anything. What if I anticipate and don’t win an award? I’ve received whatever I wanted from Highway. Whatever comes next will be a blessing.

Q.The year 2013 belonged to Deepika Padukone. Will 2014 be yours?

It’s too early to say that. I’m super excited though. I’ve got three good films this year (Highway, 2 States and Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania) and they all are so different from each other. I’m glad I’ve got lot to offer this year.

Q.With 2 States you are back with Dharma Productions.

Dharma is beautiful. It’s home for me. I’m a Dharma-ite. I had great fun shooting for the film. I absolutely loved the book 2 States. It’s one of the reasons I signed this film. The trailer of the film crossed three million views in just a few days. I guess it’s two percent because of Arjun (Kapoor) and me and 98 per cent due to the book’s popularity.

Q.On the personal front, rumours about you and Arjun Kapoor are thick. Does it bother you?

No, it doesn’t. I don’t care about them at all. Why should it bother me?

Q.Arjun recently said that his cousin Sonam Kapoor would be happy if he dated you…

Did he say that?

Q.Yes, he did.

I love Sonam and I hope Sonam loves me too. (Laughs) If, out of the blue I do end up dating Arjun, I’m sure Sonam will be happy.

Q.Will your family approve of Arjun as your husband?

I don’t want to think about getting married right now. My dad (Mahesh Bhatt) believes Arjun is a good actor. Though he wants to lock me up at home and doesn’t want me to get married to anyone.

Q.What’s your take on love?

Love is an important part of a person’s internal and external being. For me love means comfort and letting go.

Q.Have you ever been in love?

Yes, I have.

Q.When was it?

Maybe, I am still in love…

Q.Who are you in love with?

(Laughs) That I won’t tell.

Q.So is there a special someone in your life?

Sadly, there’s no one. There doesn’t have to be someone in my life to be in love. I can be in love with someone who’s not with me also.

Q.Are you going to do anything about it?

(Laughs) Maybe, I already have done something about it.

Q.If your parents don’t agree with your choice, how far would you go to get married to the guy you love?

My parents are not the type who will disagree. And if at all something like this happens, I’ll fight my way through it. I’m a bit of rebel. I will never run away and get married. I won’t be happy without my family.

Q.How much influence does your dad have in your choice of your films?

He doesn’t have much influence in the choice of my films but he has a lot of influence on my career and the person that I am. He has superb work ethics. He’s passed those onto me. Punctuality, people skills… small things which matter a lot, he’s helped me with these. People believed that after the great reviews of Highway, success would go to my head. It hasn’t. My dad has always told me not to allow success reach my head and failure my heart. So, even when I was hearing good things about me, I was blank.

Q.What was his reaction after watching Highway?

He was the most excited about Highway. He couldn’t sleep the night before the film released. What makes me happy is that I’ve made him proud. He has told me this many times till now.

I haven’t watched Jism yet. I couldn’t see Murder at the time of its release but I have watched all three in the series and loved them.

Q.Do you want your father to get back to direction?

He says he doesn’t want to direct anymore. And I don’t want to push him.

Q.Would you work in his production Vishesh Films?

Yes and it will happen soon with a bang.

Q.Reportedly, you were disappointed when you were rejected for the Dil Hai Ke Maanta Nahi remake?

The project has not even begun. So how can I be in or out of it? Such things leave me baffled!

Q.Will you be interested doing it?

Of course! I want to do it.

Q.They say star kids have it easy…

When will they stop saying this! It’s true to a certain extent but you can only sustain if you have got talent. If you are not talented, you are pushed back and shut down.

Q.A critic recently said that with Parineeti Chopra and you the future of Hindi films seems good…

Sounds extremely flattering. Presently, Parineeti, Shraddha (Kapoor) and I are the youngest. The moment we move ahead, new people will come in. There will be more talent around.

Q.You and Parineeti are said to be the new BFF’s in town…

I wouldn’t use the term ‘best friend’ to define our friendship. We don’t get to talk much or meet often because we’re extremely busy. I’m fond of her. It’s always fun to meet her. She’s genuine and I’m genuine too. Because of our schedules, we don’t get to hang out and chill together though.

Q.Suddenly there are a lot of women-centric films being made. What do you feel about that?

It’s fabulous. I absolutely loved Kahaani. This year there’s Highway, Gulaab Gang and Queen already. It’s a good time at the movies. Also, the fact that people like these movies is a major boost.

Q.Will you do a big-budget film even if you don’t have much of a role in it?

I strongly believe the length of the role doesn’t matter. Having said that, I will not do a role if I don’t like it. It has to be challenging. I want to be as versatile as possible.